Southern California -- this just in

Man attacks woman in Santa Monica elevator and flees

Santa Monica police Monday night were looking for a man who assaulted a woman in an elevator.

The woman arrived for work at 429 Santa Monica Blvd. and was followed into the elevator by the man, police said.

"The suspect immediately assaulted the victim, while making a statement which led the victim to believe she was going to be sexually assaulted," the Santa Monica Police Department said in a statement.

The woman began fighting back, forcing the attacker to flee when the elevator stopped a few floors up. A witness saw the suspect fleeing and tried unsuccessfully to follow him as he left along 5th Street, police said.

The attacker is described as Latino or Middle Eastern in his late 20s, police said. He is 5-feet, 7-inches to 5-feet, 10-inches tall; weighs about 150 pounds; has short, straight black hair, brown eyes, a light goatee and tattoos on his arms.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. DeRyck at (310) 458-8944 or Sgt. Jacob at (310) 458-8460.